Do You Lock?

[chuck9997]

Do you pad lock the aframe roof when its down? Do you padlock the front storage trunk (like on my a122s)? I already have too many keys..
1. door key
2. storage compartment key
3. coupler lock key
4. hitch pin key
5. Key for the padlock on the chain that wraps around the camper's frame and my carport at home. (The last 3 are just for piece of mind... I know thieves can take it if they want.. but maybe they will move onto an easier target.)

Anyway.. thinking of maybe adding combination locks to the roof and trunk.. so I don't have more keys.

What do you do?

[Papa GLS]

Buy pad locks that are all keys the same. Available @ Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, etc. Then only one key.

[Big Vic]

I lock everything, which probably just deters children and low level thieves...there are casual thieves who will take things without premeditation if easy access is granted.
Locking is in my DNA...I grew up in NYC where everyone locks everything.

[Twistedpairs]

X2 on the multi lock with one key. Used to use combination locks on everything but then... What were we talking about again?! I even tried writing the combination down somewhere and forgot where I put that! Grampa used to always say, locks only keep the honest people out.

[pjnlorrie]

I believe in locking stuff up but recommend against keyed locks for the roof latches. Think about getting to your destination and discover you left the camper keys at home. This happened to my son. Use combination locks instead-no keys. Used a re-settable type like this for years:

Brinks Home Security 1-3/16 in. (30 mm) Resettable Combination Solid Brass Padlock-171-30051 - The Home Depot

*These make it easy to set the combo to something you will not forget-address, year of birth, etc.

[chuck9997]

I bought 2 combination locks today. BRINKS brass locks. One for the roof. . One for front storage trunk.

[chuck9997]

Now.. what the heck was that "easy to remember" number I put in?

[Newbies to Aframe 2015]

We lock everything as well. We did buy the multiple locks with multiple duplicates of the same key.

[bensinc]

Originally Posted by pjnlorrie

Think about getting to your destination and discover you left the camper keys at home.

I did just that once! We only drove an hour away, but ended up just going home for the night and coming back in the morning!

I don't have locks on the roof latches, and the door was unlocked, but I couldn't get into the rear door where I keep my tools, cranks, power cord, etc. I could have gotten into the other compartments from the inside.

The camper keys now stay in the car at all times!

[chuck9997]

I have two sets of all the keys.. one set in the tow vehicle. . One set stays at home.

[dts3204]

If you ever lock the roof latch while down, and lose the keys. Press down on the roof and unlatch. Had that shown to me at an A Frame Tech Rally. Easier to do on an Aliner, but can be done with a Forest River product. The foam a the rear has give and thus you can always open the unit.

[A-Frame Don]

Originally Posted by pjnlorrie

I believe in locking stuff up but recommend against keyed locks for the roof latches. Think about getting to your destination and discover you left the camper keys at home. This happened to my son. Use combination locks instead-no keys. Used a re-settable type like this for years:

Brinks Home Security 1-3/16 in. (30 mm) Resettable Combination Solid Brass Padlock-171-30051 - The Home Depot

*These make it easy to set the combo to something you will not forget-address, year of birth, etc.

I have the same locks and so far have kept the honest people honest.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by chuck9997

I have two sets of all the keys.. one set in the tow vehicle. . One set stays at home.

Chuck what good are the key's at home? You need to hide an extra set somewhere in the TV or with the outside of the trailer....

[chuck9997]

Good point.. maybe I'm afraid of losing the tow vehicle too. Lol

[DobeFanatic]

Originally Posted by dts3204

If you ever lock the roof latch while down, and lose the keys. Press down on the roof and unlatch. Had that shown to me at an A Frame Tech Rally. Easier to do on an Aliner, but can be done with a Forest River product. The foam a the rear has give and thus you can always open the unit.

One one side of the camper, the clamp down latch has a loop that feeds through the latch. Once I put a lock through that loop, I don't see how it could possibly open without unlocking first?

[dts3204]

Push down on the roof. Enough give in the foam to allow the latch to be moved without undoing the lock. Just try it may take a little effort but it will become unlatched.

[Pooneil]

I use small aluminum combination locks on the roof and trunk. The small, three digit kind that are settable. They are only good to deter casual thieves, the kind of people that think if something isn't locked it is there for the taking. At home, where the camper is behind a gate, I barely scramble to numbers so I can get in easily.

I'd rather have the lock fail for a dedicated thief than have the latch torn out. Replacing anything that would be stolen would cost less than fixing the camper.

[Lost Vermonters]

I have the camper with door locks, hitch locks, compartment locks, etc.

Then a cabin out of state with front door, back door, garage keys.

The a family camp in Maine with door keys, three garage keys and a key to a chain across the road.

If I ever lose my truck center compartment I will be lost!!!

[DobeFanatic]

DTS3204, of course, you are right. Putting a lock on the roof latch is probably a waste of time as the entire latch flip system is only attached to the lower part of the camper, not the roof too. I may lock it just for appearances as most would not know they could press down to open the camper, geez, what a poor design.

[TrishB]

We use a simple combination TSA luggage lock. It won't deter anyone except the casually curious. We use an anniversary for the code. Easy to remember.